Realm selection page showing no low pop servers

Are blizzard trying to hide the real realm populations? Currently there are no realms showing low pop on the EU realm selection(all showing medium/full) screen so i made 2 chars horde/alliance on Sporeggar which is showing as medium pop,alliance has 10 players online while horde has 6 : /
Something fishy going on here.

The realm pop indicator doesn't mean much. The server my Warlock is on is listed as low pop (and it's really low pop) most of the times. Then on the weekends it creeps up into 'medium'. I just take that realm pop thing with a grain of salt.

I've seen a shocking amount of players who seem to truly believe Blizzard is actively trying to screw people over. I don't get it.

Not screw people, just inflate numbers. As far as the "active" number of subs on their quarterly they can get away with it based on a 1 month sub during that quarter so if you sub then quit guess what you're counted as "active" for the quarter.

Blizzard isn't hiding anything. You guys are overreacting and need to relax.

Not screw people, just inflate numbers. As far as the "active" number of subs on their quarterly they can get away with it based on a 1 month sub during that quarter so if you sub then quit guess what you're counted as "active" for the quarter.

You subbed hence paid for a service. They must acknowledge that to the shareholders. If you quit they don't count that until the following quarter. Provided of course you don't change your mind and come back.

Not screw people, just inflate numbers. As far as the "active" number of subs on their quarterly they can get away with it based on a 1 month sub during that quarter so if you sub then quit guess what you're counted as "active" for the quarter.

That is how every sub-business works. When you unsubscribe your access to the game doesn't end until the time you paid for passes. Technically you are still an active sub. It's not inflation or dishonesty.

That is how every sub-business works. When you unsubscribe your access to the game doesn't end until the time you paid for passes. Technically you are still an active sub. It's not inflation or dishonesty.

Right. Business wise they are being "honest" in reality however they are saying more people are actively playing than are actually subscribed.

Right. Business wise they are being "honest" in reality however they are saying more people are actively playing than are actually subscribed.

They never said actively playing. Simply subscribed. I'm subbed to SWTOR...but haven't played in months. Legally in accounting terms I am a subscriber. I'm paying for the service; I am generating revenue for them. Nothing says I have to be active about using it.

Not screw people, just inflate numbers. As far as the "active" number of subs on their quarterly they can get away with it based on a 1 month sub during that quarter so if you sub then quit guess what you're counted as "active" for the quarter.

Actually they don't count subs that have been cancelled, even if they're still active. Their full definition is listed on their press releases, let me dig one up real quick...

Originally Posted by Blizzard Entertainment

World of Warcraft subscribers include individuals who have paid a subscription fee or have an active prepaid card to play World of Warcraft, as well as those who have purchased the game and are within their free month of access. Internet Game Room players who have accessed the game over the last thirty days are also counted as subscribers. The above definition excludes all players under free promotional subscriptions, expired or cancelled subscriptions, and expired prepaid cards. Subscribers in licensees’ territories are defined along the same rules.

Actually they don't count subs that have been cancelled, even if they're still active. Their full definition is listed on their press releases, let me dig one up real quick...

Originally Posted by Blizzard Entertainment

World of Warcraft subscribers include individuals who have paid a subscription fee or have an active prepaid card to play World of Warcraft, as well as those who have purchased the game and are within their free month of access. Internet Game Room players who have accessed the game over the last thirty days are also counted as subscribers. The above definition excludes all players under free promotional subscriptions, expired or cancelled subscriptions, and expired prepaid cards. Subscribers in licensees’ territories are defined along the same rules.

(Bolded for emphasis.)

Well that is a can of worms.

That's an announcement from 4 years ago? That's back when they still regularly reported the number of subscribers instead of only revealing it every quarter.

There's also a difference between such a thing being said during a publicity or forum post, or as small letters on earning calls. They can say whatever they want on the forums or in news posts on the site, doesn't mean they'll use the same principles on the quarter calls though.

That's an announcement from 4 years ago? That's back when they still regularly reported the number of subscribers instead of only revealing it every quarter.

There's also a difference between such a thing being said during a publicity or forum post, or as small letters on earning calls. They can say whatever they want on the forums or in news posts on the site, doesn't mean they'll use the same principles on the quarter calls though.

They never said actively playing. Simply subscribed. I'm subbed to SWTOR...but haven't played in months. Legally in accounting terms I am a subscriber. I'm paying for the service; I am generating revenue for them. Nothing says I have to be active about using it.

I am agreeing with that. In fact I have never said otherwise. However, just as you said subbed and active are not the same thing so by them inflating a low pop server when in actuality less people are actively playing is wrong.

---------- Post added 2013-05-12 at 06:30 AM ----------

Originally Posted by Rivin

Actually they don't count subs that have been cancelled, even if they're still active. Their full definition is listed on their press releases, let me dig one up real quick...

Originally Posted by Blizzard Entertainment

World of Warcraft subscribers include individuals who have paid a subscription fee or have an active prepaid card to play World of Warcraft, as well as those who have purchased the game and are within their free month of access. Internet Game Room players who have accessed the game over the last thirty days are also counted as subscribers. The above definition excludes all players under free promotional subscriptions, expired or cancelled subscriptions, and expired prepaid cards. Subscribers in licensees’ territories are defined along the same rules.

(Bolded for emphasis.)

Rivin is doesn't work in the way that you're implying. If someone subs even for only 1 month that revenue has to be reported (we have accounting laws that mandate that) so they cannot simply ignore that money was earned so they report it. In doing so on their income statement they have to list that account along with all the other subbed accounts as a subscriber even if that account holder quit during that quarter.